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HelpAge International Marks World Health Day with Focus on Diabetes

Thursday, April 07, 2016

On April 7, World Health Day, HelpAge International is working around the world to raise awareness of the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in older age groups. Currently 422 million adults, mostly in developing countries, have diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, the disease was the direct cause of about 1.5 million deaths in 2012. In many countries, older people with diabetes continue to receive inadequate care. Exacerbating this is the low level of awareness of diabetes among older people themselves as well as among service providers. This means older people are missing out on early detection, treatment and care, increasing the risk of the condition worsening and developing other associated health conditions. HelpAge’s diabetes fact sheet includes recommendations for policy makers and healthcare officials on how to respond to diabetes in older age.